Record changer



May 8, 1962 E. s. BARA 3,033,576

RECORD CHANGER Filed July 5, 1957 '7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

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RECORD CHANGER Filed July 5, 1957 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,033,576 RECORD CHANGER Edwin ,5. Bare, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Wehcor, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed July 3, 1957, Ser. No. 669,806

23 Claims. (Cl. 274) This invention relates to record changers, and more particularly to a record changer adapted to play successive records of different sizes.

In previously available record players, a great number of parts having a complex and cumbersome construction have been required, resulting in high manufacturing and repair costs as well as susceptibility to breakdown in use.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a record player of utmost simplicity of construction, and reliability of operation, constructed of sheet metal so far as major operating parts are concerned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a record changer as described, in which raising and lowering of the tone arm, as well as all other necessary movements associated therewith, are accomplished by' simple slide means preferably utilizing the aforementioned sheet metal construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide slide means as described, actuated by gear means and cam means associated therewith, the said gear means being responsive to predetermined phases of the playing cycle.

Another object of the invention is to provide means cooperating with the previously described slide means for positioning the tone arm at a desired radial position in accordance with the diameter of a record to be played.

Another object is to provide a construction as described, which is especially compact and operates without interference of parts by virtue of means for positively avoiding jamming and the like.

Another object is to provide speed control means operable in cooperation with the above described means, and utilizing a stepped cam construction integral with an actuating element therefor.

Other advantages and principles of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds in accordance with the drawings, in'which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a record changer according to the present invention;

FIG. 1a is a fragmentary bottom plan view of means for gradually lowering the tone arm of the changer and player;

FIG. 1b is a vertical sectional view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1a;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the overall mechanism described hereinabove;

FIG. 2a is a side elevation of the parts shown in FIG. 1 for detecting the size of the dropping record;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the sub panel arrangement of elements of the invention with the turntable and mounting plate shown in phantom;

FIG. 3a is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section, of the mechanism of the invention;

FIG. 4a is an enlarged detailed top plan view of the record changer mechanism of the invention in record playing position; this position may sometimes be referred to as the number one position;

FIG. 4b is a view corresponding to FIG. 4a showing a number two position of parts about one-fourth their Way through their operation following the completion of the playing of a record;

FIG. 40 is a view corresponding to FIGS. 4a and 4b with the elements advanced a short distance beyond that in FIG. 4b to a number three position;

FIG. 5a is a view corresponding to FIG. 4a with the elements in a fourth position about one-half the way through their operation;

FIGS. 5 b and 5c likewise show further operation of the mechanism during the remaining half of its operation;

FIGS. 6a through 6i provide detailed views of the relationship between the record size sensing means of the invention, the cam means associated with the gear for effecting record dropping and means for affording movement of the tone arm into and out of record playing position; and

FIGS. 7 and 7a are bottom and side elevational views of a modification of the invention wherein the electric current is shut-off and the idler wheel is pulled away from the driven member.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a record player 10 accord ing to the invention is shown having a tone arm 12, a spindle 13 and a record hold-down arm lever 14. An on-off button 16 is positioned slidably on the top wall 18 of the record changer for effecting starting and stopping of the record, the button 16 being also movable to a reject position. A manually rotatable speed control lever 20 is provided for affording different rates of play corresponding to different record size as, for example, 45 and 78 rpm. As indicated in dot-and-dash in the drawing, the tone arm is adapted to be moved to the outer periphery of records of various dimensions, as, for example, seven inch, ten inch and twelve inch records, it being understood that the records have particular rates of play determined in accordance with their diameters.

Referring now to FIGS. 1a and 1b, means are shown, and designated generally by reference numeral 22, for affording gradual movement of the tone arm from a position substantially horizontal and parallel to a turntable 24 of the record player into playing relationship with the record. The means 22 include a cam plate 26 having an increasingly large radius from a position toward-the outer edge of the record player toward a position toward the center of the player, A bracket arm 27 is pivotally mounted upon a second bracket 28 in order to contact the cam element in response to gravitational pressure effected through a screw or button 30 received in the upper tone arm 12, the bracket arm 27 having a guide tab 32, for aifording the said gradual lowering of the tone arm. The bracket 28 is supported on a plunger element 34 re ceived in a sleeve 36 which is mounted as by a nut 36a on wall 18, and a pair of journal ears or trunnions 38 is formed integrally on the said bracket to pivotally support the tone arm 12. Also, an upstanding lug 40 is provided to secure a spring 42 which at its other end engages the button 30 under tension stress to cushion the tone arm action. calibrate the tone arm camming action. in FIG. lb, the raising and lowering of the tone arm is effected by movement of a bevelled tongue 44 supporting the rounded lower end of the plunger,

Referring now to FIG. 2, a bottom plan view of" the means for effecting the movements described is shown,

wherein a motor 46 is provided for effecting rotation of' the motor 46 is an elongated arm 48 whose position is adjustable by the manually rotatable speed control button 20. Thus, a lever 50 is effective to move the arm 48 in either direction to effect the speed changes in accordance with various record diameters.

As seen in FIG, 3, the outer end of the arm 48 defines a four-step cam 49 actuating a lever 52 and a wheel support lever 53 pivotally secured thereto, whereby to position a drive wheel 54 at a predetermined elevation suflicient to engage a drive shaft 56 at any one of four successively reduced diameters thereof so as to drive the turntable 24 at either a 16, 33 /3, 45 or 78 r.p.m. rate as required. This is accomplished by means of a secondary Patented May 8, 1962 The button 30 may be adjusted, if desired, to And as seen.

wheel 58 which is fixedly and coaxially mounted with respect to the wheel 54 upon a central shaft 60. Thus, the four-step cam 49 at the outer end of the arm 48 defines a centrally and axially aligned slot 62 to receive a pin 64 connecting levers 52 and '53 which ride down the steps from the position shown to raise the wheel 54 into successive positions such as to permit it to engage successivly reduced diameters of the shaft 56, suitable spring means (not shown) being provided to bias the Wheel into frictional engagement.

In order to provide for stopping and starting the motor 46 manually, an elongated lever 66 is pivotally secured at one end to a pin 68 of the button 16, and is formed at its other end with steps for effecting on-otf action of a switch 70. Reject action, however, is achieved through a spring lever 72 whose action is hereinafter further described.

The lower end of the spindle 13 is connected to one end of a rocker arm 74 pivotally mounted upon a bracket 76 to actuate the record dropping mechanism. The other end of the rocker arm 74 carries a roller '78, which is responsive to the angular rotation of a circular cam member 80 which is' fixedly mounted upon a gear 82. This cam has a substantially involute configuration and is so formed as to provide for cyclic operation of the spindle assembly upon rotation of the gear 82. Thus, a rise is provided such as to time the record drop with a series of operations which include the initiation of rotation of the cam gear 82 at the termination of the reproduction of a record, raising the tone arm to a substantially horizontal position, swinging the tone arm outwardly to its limit position, and swinging the tone arm inwardly to a position corresponding to the initial reproducing position of a record of a particular diameter.

For the latter purpose, an indexing assembly 84 (FIG. 1) is provided for limiting the backswing of the tone arm. As in the application of Colin B. Dale, Serial No. 446,469, and the application of Edwin S. Bara, Serial No. 552,827, the indexing assembly 34 includes a flag S6 and a trip 86a mounted on a shaft 88. The flag 86 and trip 86ahad inclined faces '91 and 91a (FIG. 2a) which may be engaged by records as they drop. A -inch record, indicated by reference numeral 91), or by a 12-inch record, indicated by reference numeral 92 contact the flag 86 while only the 12-inch record contacts the trip 86a. A 7-inch record, such as indicated by reference numeral 94, preferably does not engage any of the sloping surfaces of the flag 86 and trip 86a, and in this connection it should be noted that the tone arm normally is carried inwardly to a position just inside the periphery of a 7-inch record.

The indexing assembly 84 normally rests during reproduction of a record tablet'in a position in which the flag 86 is clear of the periphery of even a 12-inch record. By this arrangement, any record tablet regardless of size may be removed manually without interference from the,

flag 86 and the trip 86a is pivoted to yield for this purpose. At the initiation of an automatic cycle of operation, however, the flag 86 is automatically moved to the record interference position in FIG. 1. If a 10-inch record is dropped, its edge contacts and-cams the flag outwardly enough to fall clear of it. The shaft 88 is rotated a predetermined distance by this cammingand,

' consequently, the inward movement of the tone arm is limited by a stepped stop, as hereinafter described. Likewise, the dropping of a l2-inch record cams the flag outwardly and also trips the trip 86a with the result that the travel of the tone arm is limited by a different position of the stop means to be described.

' In this connection'however, it should be noted (FIG. 2a) that the trip 86a is pivoted as at 86b as urged by spring 860 to have the lower end of the trip latch as at 86d into a groove 9111 on the flag shaft 88, to support the flag 86 in an upper position. Whenever the trip is actuated by a 12-inch record the fi'ag 86 is released at 86d to drop a predetermined distance to provide the tone arm stop mentioned.

At the initiation of each automatic cycle, the gear 82 is rotated one full revolution. As seen in FIG. 3, a lever 26 is pivot-ally mounted above the top surface of gear 82 so as to enable the gear 82 to reengage with a pinion 98. Thus, the gear 82 has a gap formed therein so that, as seen in FIG. 4a, when the tone arm is in tracking position, the pinion 98 and its drive lug 102 will be disengaged. But when tracking iscompleted, the lever 96 will be moved toward the pinion 98 by means of a rod 1114- (as hereinafter set forth) to move the bracket 106 thereof into engagement with the pinion to cause the pinion to rotate to initiate movement of gear 82 and reinitiate the cycle.

It will be also noted in this connection that the lever 96 is configured at its other end to engage the reject lever 72, so that upon movement of the manually operable button 16 into reject position, the lever 96 is enabled to move the pinion 98 to cause the tone arm lifting and outward movement otherwise effected at the conclusion of tracking.

In order to effect the requisite movements of the tone arm, a sheet metal slide 110 is mounted on a stationary member 112 and has formed therein a rectangular cutout portion 114, in which are received a pair of depending posts 116 and 118 secured in predetermined radial alignment on the gear 82. The action of these camrning posts 116 and 118 will be described in further detail in the following description, but it will be seen from examination of FIGS. 4:: through 4c that these postsengage the slide 110 at its cut-out portion 114 to afford reciprocating movement thereof. Such reciprocatory movement serves to position the aforementioned tongue 44 in predetermined relationship below the plunger 36 of the tone arm 12 to provide raising and lowering thereof as described.

Also, in order to prevent the tone arm 12 from scraping over the records after the last record has been played, a bracket 126 is mounted for pivotal movement in the stationary member 112 and has an upstanding end 122 received in an elongated slot 124 so as to interfere with the movement of a hinged member 126 whose movements normally control the movement of the tone arm as hereinafter set forth, it being noted that the depending rod 128 of the hold-down lever 14 will cause such tilting movement of the bracket (as shown in FIG. 6 in dot-dash) upon dropping of the last record.

The lateral or inward and outward movements of the tone arm 12 are positively controlled by a bell crank 139 which is fixedly secured to the plunger 36 of the tone arm, so that angular rotation of the said bell crank will cause corresponding rotation of the tone arm. Thus, one arm 132 of the bell crank is provided with an aperture (not shown) such as to slidably and relatively snugly receive therein an enlarged sleeve portion 134 of the rod 164. When the bell crank is rotated (as hereinafter described) in a clockwise direction, the arm 132 of the bell crank will frictionally engage the rod 104 and cause it to move into engagement with the pinion 9 8 to initiate tone arm lifting and outward moving action of the gear 82.

The gear 82 is enabled to cause this movement of the tone arm 12 by means of an elongated lever 136 pivotally mounted on the stationary member 112, the slide 110 being axially slotted at 138 to permit the requisite movements thereof. The lever 136 also has secured thereto, at a slight elevation thereabove, an arm 140 having a spring 142 attached to the outer end thereof so as to bias the levers 136 and 140 in counter-clockwise direction. One of the pins 116 on gear 82 is relatively longer than the other pin 118, and therefore is enabled to engage the edge of the portion 114 as seen in FIGS. izz-c to move the slide 1110 upon completion of record play. The hinged member 126 is pivotally mounted at the outer end of lever 136 and defines therewith a rectangular opening 139, the said outer end of the lever 136 being stepped or cut away for this purpose, and being bent upwardly or elevated a predetermined amount.

The other arm 141 of the bell crank 136 carries an upstanding pin 137 of exactly calibrated height relative to the position of lever 136 and hinged portion 126 so that as the pin 116 moves the slide lid to raise tone arm 12 by means of its plunger 36, and upon engagement of pin 137 with the lever 136 as seen on FIGS. 4b and 4c, the edge of lever 136 moves the bell crank counterclockwise until the tone arm is in position to resume play (as seen in FIG. 40). During play, a recess 144 of arm 140 abuts pin 118 to hold the playing position steady.

However, upon initiation of play as hereinbefore described, pin 116 engages the other side of cut-out portion 114 to move slide 116 in the opposite direction, while the relatively shorter pin 11S engages arm 140 as shown to swing arm 136 clockwise the required amount, the hinge 126 afiording engagement with pin 137 to move the bell crank 13th and tone arm 12 into playingposition. As noted before, however, means are provided to move the hinge out of the way of pin 137 when the last record has been played.

Referring now to FIGS. 6c-6i, means for stopping the inward movement of the tone arm into playing position are shown, including a hook 146 pivotally mounted on the upstanding portion 148 of lever 136, and a bell crank mounted on the shaft 88 and having an arm 152 provided with a flange 154 adapted to engage releasably with the hook 146. Thus, prior to movement of the tone arm inward, as seen in MG. 4c, the hook is in disengaged position but the parts are so configured that when flag 86 is turned as described, the hook is engaged and carries lever 136 counter-clockwise a predetermined distance sufficient to present a stepped extension 156 of the lever into position in front of the other arm 158 of the bell crank 15% so that the arm 15% abuts one of the 7-inch or 10-inch steps if the trip 36:: has not been actuated by a 12-inch record to drop arm 158 down. If dropped as when-the trip is actuated by a 12-inch record, then the arm 158 engages the 12-inch step and places the tone arm, in all cases at the periphery of the respective record to be played.

However, a tongue 160 is provided in the slide 110 so that, when the slide moves radially inwardly during a cycle, the bell crank 150 will be cammed upwardly by permit the tone arm to move freely and reset the trip 36a. In order to determine the extent of movement of slide 110 without any jamming or jarring, a bracket 164 is provided having a hinge 166 which will engage the stop 1120 during outward radial movement of the slide and a spring 168 is also utilized at the hinge point 176 to assure freedom from jarring and banging.

Thus, a mechanism has been provided which affords all necessary steps of the record playing cycle with a minimum of parts and a freedom of interaction which substantially reduces the likelihood of breakdown. The sheet metal structure which is used in the construction makes repair or replacement inexpensive and simple should such become necessary, while the complementary relationship of the parts permits a smooth, uninterrupted playing cycle consistent with the highest consumer requirements.

Referring now to H68. 7 and 7a after the last record is played, arm 132 of the bell crank 13d actuates the lever 301 which in turn raises the arm 3132. Then as the arm 362 is retracted bodily by lever 136 just before thecompletion of a cycle same clears the tab 304 on lever 66. On completion of cycle, the lever 136 actuates arm 302 which is still in its raised position and enables it to contact tab 364 on lever 66 to shut off the changer. Also while the lever 66 is being actuated it actuates lever 303 to pull the idler wheel 53 away from the turntable by bodily displacing the shaft thereof inwardly.

Although I have herein set forth and described my invention with respect to certain principles and details thereof, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that these may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the hereunto appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a record changer for playing records of dilferent sizes and speeds related thereto, a slide including a stationary element and an element mounted for axial reciprocating movement therealong, gear means, and means for actuating said gear means at predetermined intervals, a tone arm mounted for vertically slidable movement in the record changer, a pivot lever pivotally mounted on said stationary element, said slidable element defining a slot to permit said reciprocatory movement past the pivot point for said lever means on said gear for effecting cyclical reciprocating movement of said slidable element and pivotal movement of said lever, means on said tone arm for engaging said lever upon raising of the tone arm, and means on said lever cooperating with said means on said tone arm and adapted to release said tone arm means upon commencement ofplaying of a record, said lever means affording predetermined cyclical angular rotation of said tone arm.

2. In a record changer for playing records of different sizes and speeds related thereto, a slide including a stationary element and an element mounted for axial reciprocating movement therealong, gear means and means for actuating said gear means at predetermined intervals, a tone-arm mounted for vertically slidable movement in the record changer, a pivot lever pivotally mounted on said stationary element, said slidable element defining a slot to permit said reciprocatory movement pastthe pivot point for said lever means on said gear for eifecting cyclical reciprocating movement of said slidable element and pivotal movement of said lever, means on said tone arm for engaging said lever, means on said lever cooperating with said means on said tone arm and adapted to release said tone arm means upon commencement of playing of a record, said lever means affording predetermined cyclical angular rotation of saidtone arm, said tone having a plunger for affording said vertically slidable movement, and a tongue on said slide having a bevelled contour and supporting said plunger in camming relationship whereby said tone arm is lowered and raised in synchronized relationship with said cyclical movement of the tone arm.

3. In a record changer for playing records of different sizes and speeds related thereto, a slide including a stationary element and an element mounted for axial reciprocating movement therealong, gear means and means for actuating said gear means at predetermined intervals, a tone arm mounted for vertically slidable movement in the record changer, a'pivot lever pivotally mounted on said stationary element, said slidable element defining a slot to permit said reciprocatory movement past the pivot point for said lever means on said gear for effecting cyclical reciprocating movement of said slid-able element and pivotal movement of said lever, means on said tone arm for engaging said lever, means on said lever cooperating with said means on said tone arm and adaptedv to release said tone arm means upon commencement of playing of a record, said lever meansatfording predetermined cyclical angular rotation of said tone arm, and means for sensing the size of a record to be played, said means having secured thereto means adapted. to be engaged with said lever and said lever having means pivotally secured thereto for releasably engaging with said last named means whereby to transmit indexing directions to said tone arm.

4. In a record changer for playing records of different sizes and speeds related thereto, a slide including a stationary element and an element mounted for axial reciprocating movement therealong, gear means and means for actuating said gear means at predetermined intervals, a tone arm mounted for vertically slidable movement in the recordchanger, a pivot lever pivotally mounted on said stationary element, said slidable element defining a slot to permit said reciprocatory movement past the pivot point for said lever means on said gear for effecting cyclical reciprocating movement of said slidable element and pivotal movement of said lever, means on said tone arm for engaging said lever, means on said lever cooperating with said means on said tone arm and adapted to release said tone arm means upon commencement of playing. of a record, said lever means affording predetermined cyclical angular rotation of said tone arm, and means for sensing the size of a record to be played, said means having bell crank means secured thereto, said lever having hook means pivotally secured thereto and said bell crank means having one arm thereof adapted to releasably engage with said hook means, said lever having a stepped extension and said bell crank means having another arm adapted to move into stopping relationship with said extension when said sensing means is actuatedby a record to be played whereby to transmit indexing directions to said arm.

5. In a record changer for playing records of diderent sizes and speeds related thereto, a slide including a stationary element and an element mounted for axial reciprocating movement therealong, gear means and means for actuating said gear means at predetermined intervals, a

tone arm mounted for vertically slidable movement in the record changer, a pivot lever pivotally mounted on said stationary element, said slidable element defining a slot to permit said reciproc'a'tory movement past the pivot point for said lever means on said gear for eitecting cyclical reciprocating movement of said slidable element and pivotal movement of said lever, means on said tone arm for engaging said lever, means on said lever cooperating with said means on said tone arm and adapted to release said tone arm means upon commencement of playing of a record, said lever means afiording predetermined cyclical angular rotation of said tone arm, and means responsive to the playing of a final record adapted to disengage said tone arm means from said lever.

6. The construction according to claim 5 'wherein said means include hinge means for limiting the sliding movement of said slide element.

7. In a record changer for playing records of different sizes and speeds related thereto, a slide including a stationary element and an element mounted for axial reciprocating movement therealong, gear means and means for actuating said gear means at predetermined intervals, a tone arm mounted for vertically slidable movement in the record changer, a pivot lever pivotally mounted on said stationary element, said slidable element defining a slot to permit said reciprocatory movement past the pivot point for said lever means on said gear for effecting cyclical reciprocating movement of said slidable element and pivotal movement of said lever, means on said tone arm for engaging said lever, means on said lever cooperating with said means on said tone arm and adapted to release said tone arm means upon commencement of playing of a record, said lever means attording predetermined cyclical angular rotation of said tone arm, and means for sensing the size of a record to be played, said means having "bell. crank means secured thereto, said lever having hook means pivotally secured thereto and said bell crank meanshaving one arm thereof adapted to releasably engage with said hook means, said lever havingv a stepped extension and said bell crank means having another arm adapted to move into stopping relationship with said extension when said sensing means is actuated by a record to be played whereby to transmit indexing directions to said arm, said slide element defining a slot for receiving said bell crank means and a camming extension adapted to earn.- said bell crank means and the second named arm thereof out of operative relationi for actuating said gear means at predetermined intervals,

a tone arm mounted for vertically slidable movement in the record changer, a pivot lever pivotally mounted on said stationary element, said slidable element defining a slot to permit said reciprocatory movement past the pivot point for said lever means on said gear for effecting cyclical reciprocating movement of said slidable element and pivotal movement of said lever, means on said tone arm for engaging said lever, and means on said lever coopcrating With said means on said tone arm and adapted to releasesaid tone arm means upon commencement of playing of a record, said lever means affording predeterminedcyclical angular rotation of said tone arm, said record changer having a spindle means for effecting record release and a pivot bar having one end pivotally secured to said spindle means, said gear having a cam defining a rise affixed thereto and said pivotal bar having a roller at its other end disposed in abutting. engagement with said cam for efiecting record release in synchronized relationship with the movements of said slide and tone arm.

9. In a record changer for playing records of different sizes and speeds related thereto, a slide including a stationary element and an element mounted for axial reciprocating movement therealong, gear means and means for actuating said gear means at predetermined intervals, a tone arm mounted for vertically slidable movement in the record changer, a pivot lever pivotally mounted on said stationary element, said slidable element defining a slot to permit said reciprocatory movement past the pivot point for said lever means on said gear for effecting cyclical reciprocating movement or" said slidable element and pivotal movement of said lever, means on said tone arm for engaging said lever, and means on said lever cooperating with said means on said tone arm and adapted to release said tone arm means upon commencement of playing of a record, said lever means affording predetermined cyclical angular rotation of said tone arm, said means on said tone arm including a bell crank having one arm provided with an upstanding pin, said means on said lever including a cut-away. portion elevated slightly less than the height of said pin and a hinge defining with said lever an opening whose edges cooperate with the pin in effecting said tone arm movement.

10. In a record changer [for playing intermixed records of different sizes and speeds, a slide including a stationary element and an element mounted for axial reciprocating movement therealong, gear means and means for actuating said gear means at predetermined intervals, a tone arm mounted for vertically slidable movement in the record changer, a pivot lever pivotally mounted on said stationary element, said slidable element defining a slot to permit said reciprocatory movement past the pivot point for said lever means on said gear for effecting cyclical reciprocating movement of said slidable element and pivotal movement of said lever, means on said tone arm for engaging said lever, and means on said lever cooperating with said means on said tone arm and adapted to release said tone arm means upon commencement of playing of a record, said lever means affording predetermined cyclical angular rotation of said tone am, said means on said tone arm including a bell crank having one arm provided with an upstanding pin, said means on said lever including a cut-away portion elevated slightly less than the height of said pin and a hinge defining with said lever an opening whose edges cooperate with the pin in effecting said tone arm movement, means pivotally mounted on said stationary element adapted to be moved 9 by record hold-down means for said changer upon play ing of a final record to raise said hinge and free said tone arm to prevent scraping thereof across such final record.

11. In a record changer for playing records of different sizes and speeds related thereto, a slide including a stationary element and an element mounted for axial reciprocating movement therealon-g, gear means and means for actuating said gear means at predetermined intervals, a tone arm mounted for vertically slidable movement in the record changer, a pivot lever pivotally mounted on said stationary element, said slidable element defining a slot to permit said reciprocatory movement past the pivot point for said lever means on said gear for effecting cyclical reciprocating movement of said slidable element and pivotal movement of said lever, means on said tone arm for engaging said lever, and means on said lever cooperating with said means on said tone arm and adapted to engage said tone arm means upon completion of playing of a record, said lever means aliording predetermined cyclical angular rotation of said tone arm, said means on said tone arm including a bell crank having one arm provided with an upstanding pin, said means on said lever including a cut-away portion elevated slightly less than the height of said pin and a hinge defining with said lever an opening whose edges cooperate with the pin in eifecting said tone arm movement, means being pivotally mounted on said stationary element adapted to be moved by record hold-down means for said changer upon playing of a final record to raise said hinge and free said tone arm to prevent scraping thereof across such final record, said bell crank for the tone arm having a second arm defining an aperture and defining a rod slidably and relatively snugly received in said aperture and a pawl pivotally mounted on said changer adapted to be pivoted by said rod when said tone arm bell crank is turned a predetermined extent, said pawl being adapted to engage said means for actuating said gear means whereby to reinitiate a playing cycle.

12. The construction according to claim 11 wherein a manually operable on-off means is provided having an elongate switch actuating bar connected therewith, said switch providing a reject position, said bar having a projection adapted toactuate said pawl when said on-olf means is moved to reject position. 7

13. In a record changer for playing records of different sizes and speeds related thereto, a slide including a stationary element and an element mounted for axial reciproeating movement therealong, gear means and means for actuating said gear means at predetermined intervals, a tone arm mounted for vertically slidable movement in the record changer, a pivot lever pivotally mounted on said stationary element, said slidable element defining a slot to permit said reciprocatory movement past the pivot point for said lever means on said gear for efiecting cyclical reciprocating movement of said slidable element and pivotal movement of said lever, means on said tone arm for engaging said lever, means on said lever cooperating with said means on said tone arm and adapted to release said tone arm means upon commencement of playing of a record, said lever means affording predetermined cyclical angular rotation of said tone arm, and manually operable speed control means including an elongate bar defining a plurality of steps and a slot therebetween, wheel means adapted to drive a turntable of the changer and a stepped spindle, axial movement of said bar being adapted to cam said wheel into predetermined vertical relationship with the spindle to determine the speed of play. v

14. In a record changer for playing records of different sizes and speeds related thereto,'a turntable, means for supporting a plurality of records above said turntable to drop records one at a time onto the turntable, a member movable upon the depositing'of the last record upon the turntable, a movable element mounted for reciprocating movement, a driven means including an element actuating same intermittently, a tone arm support member mounted for" vertically slidable movement, a pivotally mounted lever, a plurality of spaced elements upon said driven means, one of said spaced elements engag'ng said movable element to reciprocate it, both of said elements successively engaging said lever for reciprocating it predetermined distances each engagement, means on said tone arm for engaging said lever during the first reciprocation thereof, means controlled by said movable member for disengaging said engagement during said first reciprocation of said lever and means on said lever cooperating with said means on said tone arm and adapted to release said engagement during the second reciprocation of said lever, said lever means moving said tone arm laterally during said engagement.

15. The combination called for in claim 15 including switch means, means for opening said switch, said movable member interengaging said switch opening means and said lever to actuate said switch opening means during said second reciprocation.

16. In a record changer for playing records of different sizes and speeds related thereto a turntable, means for supporting a pluralityof records above said turntable to drop records one at a time onto the turntable, a first record size sensing element engaged by a plurality of records of different sizes, a second size sensing element engaged by records of the largest size to shift said first sensing element to an alternate position, driven means, a movable element mounted for reciprocating movement driven by said driven means, means for actuating said driven means at predetermined intervals, a tone arm support member mounted for vertically slidable movement, a pivotally mounted lever reciprocated by said driven means, means on said tone arm for engaging said lever during recipro cation thereof to move said tone arm laterally out and back, said lever means affording predetermined cyclical angular rotation of said tone arm during said engagement, spaced stop means controlled by said first size sensing means and engaged by said tone arm for limiting back movement thereof in relation to the size of the record dropped, said second size sensing means bringing said tone arm into engagement with one of said stop means.

17. In a record changer for playing records of ditferent sizes and speeds related thereto, a slide including a stationary element and slidable element mounted for reciprocating movement therealong, driven means, means for actuating said driven means at predetermined intervals, a tone arm support member mounted for verticallyslidable movement, a pivot lever pivotally mounted on said stationary element, a plurality of spaced elements upon said driven means, one of said spaced elements engaging said slidable element to reciprocate it, both of said elements successively engaging said lever for reciprocating it predetermined distances each engagement, means on said tone arm for engaging said lever during the first reciprocation thereof and means on said lever cooperating with said means on said tone arm and adapted to release said engagement during the second reciprocation of said lever, said lever means affording predetermined cyclical angular rotation of said tone arm during said engagement.

18. In a record changer for playing records of different sizes and speeds related thereto, a turntable, a variable speed means for rotating said turntable, a record handling element, a slide including a stationary element and an element mounted for axial reciprocating movement, driven means, a tone arm mounted for vertically slidable movement in the record changer, means driven by said tone arm for actuating said driven means at predetermined intervals, a lever pivotally mounted on said stationary element and actuated by said driven means, means on said tone arm for engaging said lever upon completion of playing of a record, said tone arm having a plunger for affording said vertically slidable movement, a tongue on said slide element having a bevelled contour and supporting said plunger in camming relationship whereby said tone arm is lowered and raised in synchronized relation- 1 1 ship with said cyclical movement of the tone arm, and means controlled bysaid second handling element and driven by said lever engaging said variable speed means to shift same away from said turntable to stop the rotation of said turntable.

19. In a record changer for playing intermixed records of different sizes and speeds, a turntable, a variable speed means for driving said turntable, means for depositing records one at a time on the turntable, a slide including a stationary element and slidable element mounted for reciprocating movement therealong, driven means, means for actuating said driven means at predetermined intervals, a tone arm support member mounted for vertically slidable movement, a pivot lever pivotally mounted on said stationary element, said lever means being driven by said driven means and affording predetermined cyclical angular rotation of said tone arm, and means for sensing the size of a deposited record to be played, said means having bell crank means secured thereto, said lever having hook means pivotally secured thereto and said bell crank means having one arm thereof adapted to releasably engage with said hook means, said lever having a stepped extension and said bell crank means having another arm adapted to move into stopping relationship with said extension when said sensing means is actuated by said deposited record, said slidable element defining a slot for receiving said bell crank means and a camming extension adapted to earn said bell crank means and the second named arm thereof out of operative relationship with said stepped extension whereby to permit free movement of said tone arm laterally at a radially inward position of said slidable element.

20. In a record changer for playing records of difierent sizes and speeds, driven means, means for actuating said driven means at predetermined intervals including a movable trip element, a movable member mounted for reciprocating movement to actuate said trip element, a tone arm movable with the playing of a record, a supporting element movable by said tone arm and frictionally supporting said movable element for reciprocating said movable member.

21. In a record changer for playing records of diiferent sizes a rotatable turntable including a driving means, driven means normally out of engagement with said driving means, means for engaging said driven means with said drive means at predetermined intervals including a movable trip element, a movable member mounted for reciprocating movement to actuate said trip element, a tone arm movable with the playing of a record on the turntable, a supporting element movable by said tone arm and frictionally supporting said movable element in weight bearing relationship for reciprocating said movable member to actuate said trip element.

22. in a record changer for playing records of different sizes, a turntable, means for supporting a plurality of records above said turntable to drop records one at a time onto the turntable, a first record size sensing element merit vertically to an alternate position, driven means, a

movable element mounted for reciprocating movement driven by said driven means, means for actuating said driven means at intervals between record playing cycles, tone arm actuating means including a tone arm support member mounted for vertical and lateral movements, a pivotally mounted lever reciprocated by said driven means, and means on said tone arm support member for engaging said lever during reciprocation thereof to move said tone arm laterally out and back with respect to the turntable, said lever means affording predetermined cyclical angular rotation of said tone arm during said engagement, spaced stop means controlled by said first size sensing means and engaged by said tone arm actuating means for limiting back movement of the tone arm in relation to said plurality of difierent sizes of the record dropped, said second size sensing means bringing said tone arm actuating means into engagement with another of said stop means in relation to the largest size record dropped.

23. In a record changer for playing records of different sizes on a turntable, means for supporting a plurality of records above said turntable to drop records one at a time onto the turntable, a tone arm mounted for vertical and lateral movement to and from a playing position, a first tone aim indexing means and a second tone arm indexing means cooperating with each other to return the tone arm to appropriate playing positions of records of different sizes, one of said indexing means including a cam element having laterally spaced stops and a stop spaced vertically from the laterally spaced stops, the other indexing means including an element for engaging said stops, means for reciprocating one of said elements away from and into engagement with the other element during a record dropping cycle, a first record size sensing member mounted for lateral movement engagedand moved laterally by a record of small size dropping onto the turntable to move said cam element and shift said laterally spaced stops with respect to the other element, a second size sensing member engaged only by records of the largest size dropping onto the turntable to vertically shift one ofsaid elements with respect to said vertically spaced stop for engagement therewith by the other element, and means interconnecting said reciprocating means and the tone arm for movement of the tone arm to a playing position determined by the engagement between said elements with respect to the stops determined by record actuation of said record size sensing members.

Faulkner Dec. 18, 1951 Vistain June 11, 1957 

